The sound of ia is made up of the sounds of both the vowels.
1. Made up of (1) i and (1) a: both of equal length, as, fial liberal, iar west.
2. Made up of (1) i and (2) a: of equal length, as, fiadh a deer, ciall common sense.
In cia which? iad they, ia is often found like (1) è.
Io.
The sound of io is either made up of the sounds of both the vowels, or like one of them alone.
1. Made up of (1) i and (3) o: i long, o short, as, diol to pay, fior true; i short, as, iolach a shout, ionnsuidh an attack.
Before a Lingual or Palatal, not quiescent, the o sometimes loses its sound, and only qualifies that of the following consonant; hence,
2. Like (1) i: long, as, iodhol an idol; short, as, crios a girdle, biorach pointed.
After a Lingual or a Palatal, not quiescent, the i